Method and means for building packages of roving



Dec. 19, 1961 J. R. WHITEHURST 3,013,376

METHOD AND MEANS FOR BUILDING PACKAGES OF ROVING Filed Feb. 9, 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR? Jot:- E. WHITE-BURST ATTORNEYS Dec. 19, 1961 J.RJWHITEHURST METHOD AND MEANS FOR BUILDING PACKAGES OF ROVING Filed Feb.9, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 19, 1961 J. R. WHITEHURST 3,013,376

METHOD AND MEANS FOR BUILDING PACKAGES 0F ROVING Filed Feb. 9, 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 5 52 INVENTOR.

Joe 12. WHITE-HURST F6 J hb ziwkw ATTORNEYS Dec. 19, 1961 J. R.WHITEHURST METHOD AND MEANS FOR BUILDING PACKAGES OF ROVING Filed Feb.9, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 T INVENTOR.

15-10 Jet- 12. WHWE-HUEST Unite 3,til3,376 METHOD AND MEANS FUR BUILDINGPACKAGES F RQVING Joe R. Vthltehurst, Bessemer City, N.., assignor toIdeal Machine Shops, Ina, Bessemer City, N.C., a corporation of NorthCarolina Filed Feb. 9, 1960, Ser. No. 7,697 22 Claims. (Ci. 57--99) Thisinvention relates to animproved method and means for building packagesof roving on textile machines having flyers provided with presserfeet,such as roving frames, slub'oers, intermediates, and the like, and whichwill be referred to hereinafter as a roving frame for purposes ofbrevity.

For many years, the textile industry has been striving to increase theproduction capacity of textile machines in order to decrease the cost ofprocessing textile fibers, strands and articles made therefrom whileincreasing the wages paid to the attendants of the various textilemachines, and so that it would not be necessary to provide additionalmachines or space to accommodate such additional machines.

Great strides have been made in increasing the rate of production onmany fiber processing machines, spining fnames, knitting machines, loomsand other textile machines. However, the rate of production of rovingframes has been somewhat of a bottle-neck in many textile manufacturingplants due to the fact that the amount of roving which could be includedin each package produced on a roving frame has been limited because ofthe type of bobbin used and the shape of the package.

Various attempts have been made to increase the size of the packages bywinding the roving onto bobbins having flanges on opposed ends thereof;i.e., onto spools. However, such a tempts have been unsuccessful becauseof the interfering relationship between the presserfeet and the flangesof the spools, with the result that it has been impossible heretofore,to properly control the lay of the roving as it was deposited upon theportions of the spool closely adjacent the flanges thereof. it has,therefore, been necessary, and is the established conventional practice,to wind roving onto bobbins without flanges and to provide a taper ateach end of each package of roving produced. This taper has beennecessary in order to prevent the roving from sloughing off the ends ofthe packages. It is apparent that the taper at each end of the prior artpackage has, in itself, limited the capacity of conventional bobbins andhas also limited the maximum diameter of the resultant package.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a novelmethod and means for producing spooltype packages of roving, utilizingpresserfeet, wherein the lay of the roving adjacent the flanged ends ofthe spool is controlled in a uniform manner by the presserfeet.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a novel methodand means for producing cylindrical packages of roving on a roving framein which flanged spools serve as the carriers or supports for thepackages, and wherein the strands of roving are directed to the spoolsby means of relatively rotating flyers with presserfeet thereon, themethod including dwelling or delaying the traversing movement of thespools relative to the flyers as the flanges of the spools move closelyadjacent the presserfeet at each end of the traversing strokes thereof.

This delaying of the traversing movement of the spools is ofpredetermined duration such as to permit a predetermined number of coilsor convolutions of roving to be wound about the respective end portionsof each spool, during the course of which each convolution or coil ofroving guides the next succeeding coil of roving. This lee insures thatthe roving is uniformly laid or coiled at opposite ends of each spooland against the flanges thereof, and also insures that the mass ofroving wound on each spool throughout the length thereof is ofsubstantially uniform diameter.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide apparatus forcarrying out the above method and which includes a delayed action clutchinterposed between the conventional builder and the conventional lifterarms which raise and lower the bolster rail and the spools carriedthereby. Thus, at the end of each traversing, stroke of the spools, thespools dwell for a predetermined interval during the initiation ofreverse movement of. the builder, whereupon the clutch then transmitsmovement from the builder to the lifter arms and, hence, to the spools.

The extent of the dwell in the traverse of the spools must'be preciselycontrolled so that, upon cessation of each traversing stroke of thespools, a sufficient number of additional coils of roving are taken upby each spool to complete the formation of one layer and to start asucceeding layer, bridging the distance from the eye of each presserfootto the adjacent flange and back to said eye.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective viewillustrating the rela tionship between a spool and the presserfoot of aflyer at the moment that the spool reaches the limit of its upwardtraversing movement;

FIGURES 2 and 3 are views similar to FIGURE 1 showing how the coils ofroving are laid onto the package while the spool rests or dwells at theend of an upward stroke;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram of the drive mechanism of a conventionalroving frame embodying, in the left-hand portion thereof, the novelmeans 122 for delaying the traversing movement of the spools at the endof each stroke thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevation of a roving frame with parts broken awayand other parts being omitted in order to illustrate many elements ofthe operating mechanism thereof;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view through theroving frame taken substantially along URE 6 and showing the noveldelayed action clutch in detail;

FIGURE 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 88 in FIGURE 7 and illustrating, in particular, how theduration of the dwell in traversing movement of the spools may beaccurately predetermined;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 7, on a reduced scale, but showingmost of the elements thereof in elevation;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged elevation of a combination spindle and spindleshaft support or step bearing shown in the lower central portion ofFIGURE 6, with parts being shown in section, the supports for all thespindles being of substantially the same construction.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the illustration of FIGURE4 is similar to illustrations provided in many catalogues andinstruction booklets issued by the manufacturers of roving frames, andwhich are wellknown in most textile mills. Thus, the conventionalelements illustrated in FIGURE 4 may be readily recognized by thosefamiliar with the art.

The numeral indicates the main drive shaft of the roving frame which hasa pulley 21 thereon driven by an endless belt 22. Drive shaft 20 has agear 25 fixed thereon which is connected, by a diagrammaticallyillustrated gear train 26, to gears 27, only one of which is shown inFIGURE 4. Gears 27 are fixed on spindle shafts 3'0 (FIGURES 4 and 6).Each spindle shaft 30 drives a plurality of conventional spindles 31 oneach of which is mounted a strand traversing means embodied in a flyer32. Only one of the spindles 31 and flyers 32 are shown in FIGURE 4,although it is well known that a plurality of such spindles and flyersare provided on each roving frame, said spindles and flyers beingarranged in the manner shown in FIGURE 6, for example.

Spindle shafts 30 impart rotation to each spindle 31 by means of bevelgears 33, 34. Roving or a similar strand of textile material R is fed toeach flyer 32 from the usual drafting rolls D. As shown in FIGURES 1, 2,3 and 6, each strand R passes through an opening 35 in the upper end ofthe respective flyer 32, then passes partially around said upper end ofthe flyer 32 and through one of its arms 36, which arm is hollow, as isusual. Each roving strand R then passes out of the lower end of thehollow arm 36 and around a conventional presserfinger 37 and thenthrough the usual opening or eye 39 provided in the presserfoot orpaddle 38 to be wound in the form of coils around an axiallyreciprocable flanged carrier or spool 41.

Each spool 41 comprises a barrel 41a and axially spaced, circular, upperand lower flanges 41b, 41c (FIG- URE 6). Flanges 41b, 41c representrespective planar strand supporting surfaces adjacent opposite ends ofeach spool. The flanges 41b, 41c may be secured to the conventionalroving bobbins or special flanged spools may be provided.

Each spool or flanged carrier 41 is penetrated by the respective spindle31 and positioned on a bolster or other support 42 having a gear 43 onits lower end which rests upon a bracket 44 (FIGURE 6) carried by aconventional bolster rail 45. Bolster rail 45 may also be termed as aspool carriage and is common to all the spindles and bolsters on themachine. Each gear 43 meshes with a bevel gear 46 fixed on a spool shaft47 which is generally known as a bobbin shaft. There are two such spoolshafts 47 shown in FIGURE 6, which are common to all the bolsters 42 ina respective row.

It will be noted that the spool shafts 47 are journaled in the brackets44 upon which the bolster gears 43 are supported, and through which therespective spindles 31 loosely extend. Since it is important that allthe spools 41 occupy the same position relative to the presserfeet 38carried by the flyers 32, a special step hearing or spindle support 50is provided for supporting the lower end of each spindle 31 and for alsosupporting the respective spindle shafts 30, as will be later described.The step bearings 50 are fixed to a spindle rail 51 carried by the frame52 of the roving frame (FIGURE 6).

It is well known that the frame 52 of a roving frame includes aplurality of upright frame members or samsons, there being four suchsamsons shown in FIGURE 5 and indicated at 5356. The upper ends of thesamsons 53-56 are interconnected by a roll stand support or beam 57.Each samson 53-56 has a vertical guide 52a thereon (FIGURE 6) on which aguide block 52b is guided. Guide block 52b has an arm 52c extendingforwardly therefrom. The bolster rail 45 is secured to the arms 52c.

Referring again to FIGURE 4, it will be observed that spool shafts 47are connected to the output portion of a conventional differentialcompound, broadly designated at 69, by means of gears 61, 62 and aconventional intervening gear train. The differential compound 60 isconventional and is mounted on main drive shaft 20.

The main drive shaft 20 has a direct drive connection to a top coneshaft '79 by means of a gear train 72. Shaft 70 has a top cone 71 fixedthereon which is engaged by an endless belt 72. Belt 72 also engages abottom cone 73.

The direct drive is also transmitted through gears 74, 75 from top coneshaft 70 to a front bottom roll shaft 76 (FIGURE 4) and thereby to theconventional drafting rolls D. Top cone shaft 70 also impartsintermittent rotation to a contact shaft or tumbler shaft 77 (FIG- URES4 and 6) having a missing-tooth gear 60, of usual form, on its upper endwhich, at times, meshes with a bevel gear 81 fixed on top cone shaft 70.Tumbler shaft 77 is a part of a conventional rack mechanism 82 and isinstrumental in reversing the direction of traverse of bolster rail 45and spools 41. Although the rack mechanism 82 is conventional, a slightchange has been made therein and, accordingly, a description thereof isgiven, later in this context, in order to clearly understand theinvention.

The spools 41 and bolster rail 45 are raised and lowered by means of atraverse motion which is conventional with the exception of themechanism for delaying the action of the traversing motion at the end ofeach stroke there of. Accordingly, certain elements of the conventionaltraversing motion will now be described.

A traverse drive shaft 85 is driven by suitable gearing 86 connectingthe shaft 87 (FIGURE 4) of the bottom cone 73 with the traverse driveshaft 85 (FIGURES 4 and 6). Shaft 85 is connected, by a gear train 9!(FIG- URE 4 only), to the outer portion of an inner sleeve 91 of theconventional differential compound 60. As is well known, the compound 60performs a proportional transmission of a variable speed componentderived from the bottom cone shaft 87 and a constant speed componentcoming directly from the main shaft 20 and, the proportional sum of thetwo components constitutes the speed of the gear 62 and thus constitutesthe variable speed of the spools 41. Accordingly, a detailed descriptionof the differential compound 60 is deemed unnecessary, it beingsufficient to state that the speed of the ilyers 32 generally remainsconstant, since they are driven directly by main shaft 20, and therotational speed of the spools 41 varies and gradually decreases as thediameter of the package of roving being wound on the spools 41increases.

It will be observed in the lower central portions of FIGURES 4 and 5that traverse drive shaft 85 has a bevel gear 96 fixed thereon which isalternately engaged by a pair of spaced twin bevel gears 97, 98. Gears97. 98 are fixed on a common sleeve 100 keyed for axial movement on anauxiliary traverse drive shaft 101 (FIG- URE 4).

Auxiliary traverse drive shaft 161 has a bevel gear 102- fixed thereonwhich meshes with a bevel gear 103 xed on a jack shaft 104. Shaft 164has a spur gear 105 fixed thereon which meshes with a gear 106 fixed ona lay shaft 107. Referring to FIGURES 5 and 6, it will be observed thatlay shaft 167 is journaled in samson 53 and extends beneath anopen-bottomed lifter gearing casing 110.

A pinion 111, which is usually termed as a lay change gear, is fixed onthe corresponding end of shaft 197 and meshes with a relatively largegear 112 (FIGURES 4 and 6). Gear 112 is fixed on a shaft 113 on which agear 114 is also secured. It will be observed in FIG- URE 6 that shaft113 is journaled in a bracket 115 adjustable on a stationary bracket 116carried by casing 111). Thus gears 111, 112 may be changed to vary thelay spacing, as is well known. It might be stated that the term layspacing is used to identify the ccnter'tocenter distance betweenadjacent coils of roving wound on the spools 41.

Gear 114 meshes with a gear 120 fixed on a lifter control shaft 121 towhich this term is applied simply because the novel delayed actionclutch 122 of the present invention is mounted on this shaft, as will belater described in detail. The delayed action clutch 122 includes apinion or 'gear 123 which transmits rotation from lifter control shaft121 to a gear 124 which meshes with gear 123 (FIGURES 4, 6, 7 and 9) andis fixed on a conventional lifter shaft 125. Insofar as the clutch 122is concerned, shaft 121 serves as a reciprocating driver element andgear 123 serves as a driven element.

Lifter shaft 125 has a plurality of pinions 126 fixed thereon, only oneof which is shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6. Each pinion 126 meshes with anarcuate lift rack 127 formed integral with a bobbin lifter arm or spoollifter arm 130. It will be observed in FIGURE 6 that lifter arm 131} ispivotally connected to frame 52, as at 131, and the upper surface of thefront portion of lifter arm 130 bears against a roller 132 carried bybolster rail 45. Thus, as lifter arm 1311 is caused to reciprocate, byintervening connections with the traverse drive shaft 85 heretoforedescribed, it is apparent that bolster rail 45 and spools 41 are raisedand lowered with the front end of lifter arm 130.

It might be stated that some of the gearing and other elements are shownin different positions in FIGURE 4 than they are in other views so thatall the elements of the drive for the roving frame may bediagrammatically illustrated in a single view.

As is usual, reciprocatory motion is imparted to auxiliary traversedrive shaft 101 and, through intervening connections, to the spools '41by means of a conventional builder 135 (FIGURES 4 and 5). Builder 135comprises a reversing lever 136 connected to the sleeve on which twingears 97, 98 are mounted. Lever 136 is shifted to and fro by means of aneccentric cam 137 fixed on the lower end of contact shaft 77.

Contact shaft 77 has a builder dog 14!) fixed thereon whose verticallyspaced and oppositely directed arms or abutments alternately engage apair of interconnected, but relatively adjustable builder jaws 143, 144,both of which are raised and lowered with bolster rail 45, as is wellknown (FIGURES 5 and 6).

As builder jaw 143 moves below and out of engagement with the upperabutment on builder dog 140', conventional resilient means, not shown,but associated with earn 137, causes the teeth of missing-tooth gear 80,on the upper end or" contact shaft 77, to engage bevel gear 31. Sincetop cone shaft 70 and bevel gear 81 are continuously driven during eachwinding cycle, a half revolution is imparted to shaft 77 to cause theother or lower abutment on builder dog 140 to engage builder jaws 143,144 as an area of missing-teeth on gear 811 registers with gear 81. Inso doing, eccentric cam 137 moves reversing lever 136 and shifts sleeve10% and gears 97, 98 in the corresponding direction, thus reversing thedirection of movement of spool carriage or bolster rail 45. Thisprocedure is reversed as the bottom builder jaw 144 moves above thelevel of the lower abutment on builder dog 140, as is conventional.

In order to facilitate adjustment of the displacement between the distalsurfaces of builder jaws 143, 144 and to thereby vary the length ofstroke of the traverse of the bolster rail 45 and spools 41, builderdogs 143, 144 are penetrated by oppositely threaded lower portions of abuilder screw 146 which is provided with a conventional hand wheel 147on the upper end thereof.

Heretofore, the builder screw 146 has been rotated in a stepwise manner,each time a half revolution has been imparted to builder dog 140 in themanner heretofore described. However, since the mass or package ofroving on each spool 41 is to be of the same diameter throughout itslength, the builder dogs 143, 144 are adjusted, by rotation of handwheel 147, so that Spools 41 move maximum but constant strokes and sothat the axially opposed upper and lower surfaces or edges of therespective presserfeet 38 move into positions closely adjacent to, butslightly spaced from, the proximal surfaces of the flanges 41b, 410 ofthe respective spools 41 with remain in this position throughout thewinding cycle.

Of course, the rack mechanism 82 is used in the present embodiment ofthe invention in the usual manner; that is, the rack mechanism 82 isused for shifting belt 72 to produce the desired gradual decrease inrotational and traversing speed of the spools 41. Accordingly, it willbe observed in FIGURES 4 and 5 that contact shaft 77 has a worm 159fixed thereon which meshes with a worm gear 151 connected through a geartrain 152 to a rack 153. As shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, rack 153 has abelt shifter 154 thereon through which endless belt 72 extends. Sincethe purpose and construction of rack 153 and belt shifter are wellknown, a further detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary.However, it will be noted that the usual geared connection between rack153 and builder screw 146 is omitted, in this instance.

Travel-set delay mechanism As heretofore stated, builder jaws 143, 144are so adjusted that the proximal surfaces of flanges 41b, 41c move intopositions closely adjacent to, but spaced apart from the respectiveupper and lower surfaces of presserfeet 38 with respective downward andupward traversing movements of spools 41. The displacement between theflanges 41b, 41c and the respective upper and lower edges or surfaces ofthe presserfeet 38 at the ends of the respective downward and upwardstrokes should be approximately one-sixteenth inch. Accordingly, thepresserfeet 38 should be as narrow, vertically, as is possible and stillbe provided with the eye 39.

Now, if the conventional gear was used in place of the novel delayaction clutch 123 of the present invention, it is apparent that when thespools 41 would reach the end of each stroke in each direction, theywould immediately commence moving in the reverse direction so that theextreme endmost coils or convolutions of roving would be laid on thebarrels of the spools or the previously wound portions of the packagesat a point spaced inwardly of the respective flanges. This would notonly result in the building of a partially filled spool, but would alsocause the endmost coils of roving in successive layers to becomeentangled with each other in such a manner that the roving could not bereadily withdrawn from the spool without tearing the roving.

Accordingly, in order to insure that the roving is uniformly laidthroughout the entire length of the barrels of the spools 41; i.e., theentire distance between the flanges 41b, 410 of each spool 41, I havediscovered that it is necessary to delay the reverse movement of thespools 41 each time they reach the limit-of each stroke in eachdirection. This delay must accurately correspond to twice the amount ofcoils of roving required to bridge the gap in a single layer of rovingbetween the eye or opening 39 of each presserfoot 38 and the adjacentflange 41b or 41c, as the case may be. In other words, if three (3)coils of roving are required to complete a given layer after the spoolshave come to rest at the end of a traversmg stroke, three (3) coils ofroving are then required to start a succeeding layer before a reversestroke of the spools is initiated. Therefore, I have provided the noveldelayed action clutch 122 as a preferred embodiment of means toaccomplish this purpose, which delayed action clutch may be interposedat any point between the auxiliary traverse drive shaft 101 and thepinion 126 of FIG- URES 4 and 6, and is shown, by way of example, asbeing mounted upon the traverse lift control shaft 121.

As best shown in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, the delayed action clutch 122 is inthe form of a hollow body having a hub 161 thereon which is secured andkeyed to lifter control shaft 121, as by means of a set screw 162 and akey 163, respectively. The gear 123, heretofore described, is slidablymounted on shaft 121 and has a hub 164 integral therewith or suitablysecured thereto. Hub 1 64 loosely fits within a cavity 165 formed in thebody 160 of clutch 122. a

The body 160 of clutch 122 also has an offset cavity 166 therein whichforms circularly spaced walls or abutments between which a floating keyor another abutment 167 is loosely positioned. Key 167 is suitablysecured to and projects radially from the hub 164 of gear 123.

It should be noted that key 167 is of substantially lesser width thanthe width of the cavity 166 formed in the body 166 so that, upon body160 transmitting rotation to gear 123 in one direction, it must move apredetermined distance in the opposite direction before the oppositewall, or an adjustable element 170 carried thereby will engage theopposite side of the key 167 to then impart reverse rotation to gear123. Adjustable element 170 is shown in the form of a set screw threadedinto the body 160 and projecting into opening 166. A lock nut 170:: maybe used to lock screw 170 in adjusted position.

While it is possible to eliminate adjustable element 170, there are manyvariables in different roving frames which would make it somewhatimpractical to use the delayed action clutch 122 without providing somemeans L for adjusting the extent to which the body 160 of clutch 122will move before it imparts movement to the gear 123 in thecorresponding direction. As a matter of fact, a change in hank number,the type of textile fibers in the roving, the lay spacing throughout thepackages of roving, the winding tension, the density of the roving onthe packages and other variables must be considered in determining theextent to which the body 160 of delayed action clutch 122 may rotate ineither direction independently of gear 123. In any event, the spools 41must dwell at the end of each stroke in each direction for a sufficientlength of time to permit the precise number of coils, which are requiredat the pre-set lay spacing, to twice fill the space between the eye 39of each presserfoot 38 and the respective flange of the spool 41, whilemaintaining the flanges out of contact with the presserfoot.

The set screw 17% must be accurately adjusted in the body 160 of delayedaction clutch 122 in accordance with the size, twist and fibers in theroving and the speed of the ilyers, which is normally 650 rpm, for a 12by 6 package. This is important because, if the dwell at the end of eachtraverse stroke of the spools is too long, the coils or convolutions ofroving will overlap each other and cannot be readily unwound when thespools are used on a spinning frame, for example. On the other hand, ifthe dwell is too short, the coils become so excessively spaced apartthat, when one layer is being applied over another layer of roving, thecoils of yarn in the one layer will fall between the previous coils, insome instances, thus binding adjacent layers of roving together in sucha manner that they cannot be pulled apart without severing or tearingthe roving.

The clutch body 161 may be of any desired construction or configurationprovided that it is provided with means cooperating with gear 123, orits equivalent, for delaying transmission of motion from the driverelement 121 to the driven element 123 upon each change in direction ofrotation of driver element 121. For example, key 167 may be provided onbody 168 and circularly spaced abutments may be provided on gear 123 andstraddle said key.

In operation, assuming that the bolster rail 45, spools 41, builder jaws143, 144 and builder screw 146 are in the course of an upward stroke, itfollows that, in FIG- URE 6, gears 124, 126 and lifter shaft 125 arethen rotating in a counterclockwise direction while gears 129, 123,lifter control shaft 121 and clutch body 160 are rotating in a clockwisedirection. In FIGURE 8, the lifter control shaft 121, hub 164 of gear123 and body 160 of clutch 1'22 are then rotating in a clockwisedirection. Set screw 170 would then be engaging and imparting movementto the key 167. The latter elements continue to rotate in the directionsdescribed until the builder jaw 144 (FIGURES 4 and 5) moves above andout of engagement with the lower abutment on builder dog 140. At thismoment, the bottom flanges 410 of (.a spools 41 then occupy theiruppermost positions in close proximity to but spaced from the loweredges of the presscr feet 38.

As heretofore stated, at the moment that bottom builder jaw 144 passesabove the level of the lower abutment on builder dog 14C, builder dogthen snaps around a half revolution so that the upper abutment thereonengages jaw 143. Thus, the twin gears 97, 98 (FIGURE 4) are shifted tomove one of them out of engagement with gear 96 while the other movesinto ongagement with gear 96. This reverses the direction of rotation oflifter control shaft 121 through intervening connections between shaft121 and the twin gears 97, 28.

It is thus seen that shaft 121 then rotates in a counterclockwisedirection in FIGURES 6 and 8. However, since the body and hub 161 rotatein fixed relation to lifter control shaft 121, it follows that gear 123remains stationary during initial reverse rotation of lifter controlshaft 121; i.e., until the right-hand side wall of cavity 166 (FIGURE 8)engages key 167. Thereupon, hub 16% of clutch 122 transmits rotationfrom shaft 121 to gear 123 through the abutment 167 and hub 164 of gear123. It is apparent that, when gears 12%, 123 rotate in acounterclockwise direction in FIG- URE 6, the gears 124, 126 rotate in aclockwise direction, thus lowering rack 127 and permitting bolster rail45, spools 41, builder jaws 14-3, 144 and screw 146 to move downwardlytherewith.

When spools 41 reach the limit of a downward stroke thereof, which iseffected by movement of builder jaw 143 below the upper abutment ofbuilder jaw 148, the lower surfaces of the upper flanges 410 are thensupposed to be in close proximity to, but spaced from, the upper edgesor surfaces of the respective presserfect 38. The distance from the key167, on the hub 164 of gear 123, to set screw is then sufficient topermit the spools 41 to dwell in this position while a number ofconvolutions are wound on the package to fill the space between the eye39 of each presserfoot 38 and the re spective upper flange 41b and tothen form a few coils of a succeeding layer of roving, which coils arecompleted precisely at the moment that the last coil is alincd with theeye 39 of the respective presserfoot 38. At this precise moment, setscrew 170 in hub 160 engages and imparts movement to the key or abutment167 to, in turn, impart clockwise rotation to gear 123 (FIGURE 2), thusinitiating a succeeding upward stroke of bolster rail 45 and spools 41,and to thus complete a cycle in the operation of the apparatus. It isapparent that rotation of shaft 121 is again reversed as jaw 143 passesbelow the respective arm on builder dog 140.

While the adjustment of screw 17% (FIGURE 8) may be determined by atrial-and-error method, it is contemplated that suitable spacing gaugesor single stepped gauges may be inserted between the abutment 167 andset screw 170. and a different gauge or stepped portion may be used foreach lay spacing and each hank number. Of course, different spacingblocks or gauges may also be provided for roving formed of differenttypes of fibers.

The operation of the apparatus, thus far described is based upon theassumption that all the flyers 32, or at least the prcsserfeet thereof,occupy the same position relative to the respective spools 41. However,since most roving frames are not precision-built machines or have beenin use for many years and have become worn at various points,particularly at the upper surfaces of the bolsters thereof, it isgenerally the rule, rather than the exception, that the level of theupper surfaces of the bolsters 4-2 and, consequently, the levels of thelower flanges 410 of the spools 41 vary considerably throughout theroving frame. Accordingly, even if the spools 41 are manufactured withprecision so that the proximal surfaces of the flanges 41b, 410 of allthe spools on any machine are the same distance apart and are positionedexactly the same distance from the extreme lower ends or the spools(which is required in the present instance), certain of the presserfeet38 and respective flyers 32 could be as much as one-fouth of an inchabove or below others of the presserfeet 38 and flyers 32.

Although it is not necessary that all the spools 41 occupy the samelevel on a particular roving frame, it is necessary that they occupy thesame positions relative to the respective presserfeet 38 or flyers 32.Thus, referring to FIGURE 10, I have provided a novel means forsupporting the lower end of each spindle 3i in such a manner that it maybe. accurately vertically adjusted.

As hereto-fore stated, each step bearing or spindle support 50 supportsboth a spindle and a corresponding portion of the respective spindle shat 30. To this end, it will be observed in FIGURE 10 that each stepbearing or spindle support 5% is of generally C-shaped form, includingan upper arm 1175 and a lower arm 176. Each lower arm 176 has asubstantially U-shaped friction hearing 177 fixed thereon by anysuitable means such as a pin 180 projecting downwardly therefrom,penetrating arm 176 and being secured therein by means of a set screw181.

Now, in order to support the lower end of each spindle for precisevertical adjustment relative to the respective step bearing 50, it willbe observed in FIGURE that upper arm 175 has an externally threadedhollow or cup bearing 182 threaded thereinto and which is preferablyprovided with an enlarged polygonal portion 183 on the upper end thereofwhich may be engaged by a wrench or other suitable implement foradjusting the bearing 182. The cup bearing 182 has a circular cavity 134therein provided with a tapered lower end for receiving the re duced andtapered lower end portions 185, tee of the respective spindle 31.

A lock nut 1&7 may be threaded onto the cup bearing 182 between thepolygonal portion 183 thereof and the upper surface of arm 175 of therespective step bearing fill so as to lock the cup bearing 182 in thedesired adjusted position. It is apparent that, when hollow bearing 1&2is adjusted upwardly, this raises the corresponding spindle 31, flyer 32and its presserfoot 38. Conversely, when cup bearing 182 is adjusteddownwardly, this lowers the respective spindle 31, flyer 32 and itspresscrfoot 38.

Thus, each flyer 32 and its presserfoot 33 may be precisely verticallyadjusted while a spool 41 is mounted on the respective bolster d2 sothat the lower edge of each presserfoot 38 is disposed closely adjacentto but spaced from the respective lower flange 410 of the respectivespool 4-1 when the spools 51 occupy their uppermost position. All thepresserfeet 33 should be of substantially the width so that adjustmentof the builder jaws 143,

1 may insure that the upper edges of all the presserfeet 38 will bedisposed in closely spaced relationship to the respective upper flanges4111 when the spools 41 occupy lowermost position.

t is important that presserfect or the equivalent there of be used forlaying or depositing the roving on the spools 41, since the presserfeet38 must bear against the barrels of the spools, or the preceding layersof roving thereon, throughout the winding of roving on the spools toinsure uniform lay spacing throughout each package of roving and, morcimportantly, to insure that the endmost coil of roving at the beginningof each layer bears against the endmost coil of the immediatelypreceding layer or" roving and whereby the initial endmost coil ofroving in each layer cooperates with the presserfoot in guiding the nextadjacent and subsequent coils formed in the same layer, until the gapbetween the respective spool flanges and the eye 39 of the correspondingpresserfoot has been filled with roving. This prevents the coils in anylayer, adjacent the flanges, from being deposited upon each otherradially of the barrel.

It is thus seen that I have provided a novel method and means forwinding roving onto spools, thus obviating many of the defects inherentin the usual packages of roving which have tapered ends and increasing,substantially, the amount of roving in each package produced on aparticular machine. By way of example, a

package of roving produced on a given machine in ac- I cordance with thepresent invention included one hundred eighty-one per cent more rovingthan was present in a roving package of the conventional tapered endtype produced on the same machine. This increase in package size wasobtained not only because of elimination of the tapered ends on thepackage, but because elimination of the tapered ends obviated thecrawling and sloughing of the roving inherent in tapered end packages sothat diameter of each package could be substantially greater than thatpermitted on tapered end packages produced on the same roving frame.Accordingly, the distance between the legs of each flyer could also beincreased. Although the density gradient was the same in both the oldtype package and the package produced according to the presentinvention, the density of the new package was considerably greater thanthe old type package because of the increased amount of roving thereinand because endwise expansion or swelling of the package, after it isremoved from the roving frame, is limited by the flanges of the spool.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim:

1. A method of building cylindrical packages of textile strand materialon rotating spools provided with axially spaced flanges thereon whichincludes reciprocating and axially traversing strands onto the spoolsand between the flanges and delaying the traversing of the strand, whilethe spools continue rotating, at a point adjacent the proximal surfaceof each flange for a sufficient interval to form several coils of thestrand on each spool for completing the respective layer of material andinitiating a succeeding layer of material.

2. A method of building packages of textile strand material on rotatingspools each provided with at least one flange thereon; said methodcomprising reciprocably traversing strands onto the respective spools,and delaying the traversing of the strands, while the spools continuerotating, at a point adjacent the proximal surface of each flange for asufficient interval to form several coils of the strand on each spoolfor completing the respective layer of material and initiating asucceeding layer of material adjacent the respective flange.

3. A method of laying roving onto rotating flanged spools utilizingrotating flyers with presserfeet each having axially opposed edges andan eye therein through which the roving passes to the respective spool;said method comprising producing relative axial reciprocatory movementbetween the flyers and spools in such a manner that adjacent surfaces ofthe flanges and the presserfeet are disposed in close proximity to eachother at the end of respectiverelative movements between the spools andthe flyers in each direction, and delaying the relative axial movementbetween the spools and flyers for an interval of predetermined duration,with uninterrupted r0- tation of the spools, whenever either edge ofeach presserfoot is disposed in close proximity to a respective flange,such as to eiiect the winding of a sufiicient number of coils of rovingabout the spool to complete the formation of one layer of rovingon thespool from the eye of the respective presserfoot to the adjacent flangeand to initiate formation of a succeeding layer from said adjacentflange to the respective eye.

4. A method of laying roving onto rotating flanged spools utilizingrotating flyers with presserfeet each having axially opposed edges andan eye therein through which roving passes to the respective spool; saidmethod spools relative to the fiyers in such a manner that adjacentsurfaces of the flanges and the presserfeet are disposed in closeproximity to each other at the end of each stroke of the spools in atleast one direction, and delaying axial movement of the spools for aninterval of predetermined duration, with uninterrupted rotation of thespools, whenever an edge of each presserfoot is disposed in closeproximity to a respective flange at the end of said each stroke in atleast one direction, such as to effect the winding of a sufficientnumber of coils of roving about the spool to fill with roving the gapfrom the eye of the respective presserfoot to the adjacent flange andback to the eye.

5. A method of laying roving onto flanged spools utilizing a rovingframe having flyers with presserfeet provided with eyes therein throughwhich the roving passes to the spool, said method comprising adjustingsaid fiyers so that all of the presserfeet occupy the same positionrelative to each respective spool, imparting relative rotational andrelative axially reciprccatory movement to the flyers and spools in sucha manner that adjacent surfaces of the flanges and the presserfeet aredisposed in close proximity to each other at the end of respectiverelative axial movements between the spools and the flyers in eachdirection, and delaying the relative axial movement between the spoolsand flyers for an interval of predetermined duration, with uninterruptedrotation of the spools, whenever each presserfoot is disposed in closeproximity to a respective flange, such as to effect the winding of asufiicient number of coils of roving about each spool to complete theformation of one layer of roving on the spool and start formation of asucceeding layer to fill the gap from the eye of the respectivepresserfoot to the adjacent flange and back to the eye.

6. In a roving frame having rotating flyers equipped with presserfeetfor traversing roving onto rotating and axially reciprocating spools,said spools having axially spaced flanges thereon, the combination withmeans imparting axial reciprocation to the spools, of means delaying theaxial movement of the spools for a predetermined interval at the end ofeach stroke thereof in each direction.

7. In a roving frame having rotating flyers equipped with presserfeet, acarriage for supporting roving carriers thereon and being reciprocablymovable parallel to the axes of said flyers, and means forming a planarsurface pcrpendicular to the axis of each carrier and adjacent each endof each carrier, the combination with means effecting reciprocation ofthe carriage, of means to delay the movement of the carriage for apredetermined interval at the end of each stroke thereof in eachdirection.

8. In a textile machine having axially, vertically, reciprocating strandcarriers, strand traversing means having presserfeet thereon fordirecting strands to said carriers, driving means to rotate andreciprocate said carriers, and means forming a planar surface at eachend of each carrier and perpendicular to the axis thereof; thecombination therewith of means delaying the axial movement of saidcarriers at the end of each upward stroke thereof and also delaying theaxial movement of said carriers at the end of each downward strokethereof.

9. The combination with a textile machine having strand traversing meansequipped with presserfeet thereon, a spool supporting carriage, drivingmeans to rotate spools on the carriage and to effect relative axialreciprocation between said traversing means and said carriage, and saidspools having flanges adjacent opposite ends thereof, of means to delaythe relative reciprocation between said traversing means and saidcarriage at the end of each relative movement thereof.

10. In a roving frame having rotating fiyers equipped with presserfeetfor traversing roving onto relatively rotating spools provided withflanges thereon, a carriage for said spools, and a reciprocating drivenshaft; the

combination of means transmitting reciprocatory movement from saidreciprocating shaft to said carriage, and means operatively associatedwith said reciprocating driven shaft for delaying the transmission ofmotion from said reciprocating shaft to said carriage for apredetermined interval at the end of each movement of said shaft in eachdirection.

11. A structure according to claim l0 in which said last-mentioned meanscomprises a delayed action clutch interposed between said reciprocatingdriven shaft and said carriage.

12. A structure according to claim l0 wherein said means operativelyassociated with the reciprocating driven shaft comprises a first elementreciprocahlc in fixed relation to said reciprocating driven shaft, asecond rotatable element operatively connected to said carriage andmovable in direct relation to the reciprocatory movement thereof, spacedfirst and second abutments on one of said elements, and means on theother of said elements alternately engageable with said first and secondabutments with respective movements of said first element in oppositedirections whereby said reciprocating driven shaft and said firstelement move a predetermined amount in the opposite direction uponcompletion of each movement thereof in either direction before anabutment on said one of the elements is engaged with said alternatelyengage-able means on the other of said elements and the first elementimparts rotation to the second element and thus imparts movement to saidcarriage.

13. A structure according to claim 12 including means for varying thedisplacement between the abutments on said one of the elements tothereby vary the length of the interval during which the motion of saidcarriage is delayed at the end of each stroke during reciprocationthereof.

14. A structure according to claim 10 wherein said means operativelyassociated with the reciprocating driven shaft comprises a first elementfixed on said shaft, a second element journaled on said shaft and beingoperatively connected to said carriage, spaced first and secondabutments on said first element, and a key on said second elementdisposed between and being alternately engageabie by said first andsecond abutments with respective movements of said first element inopposite directions whereby said reciprocating driven shaft and saidfirst element move a predetermined amount in a reverse direction uponcompletion of each movement thereof in either direction before anabutment on the first element completes its movement away from said keyand the other abutment engages the key and imparts rotation to thesecond element and, thus, to said carriage.

15. A structure according to claim 14 including means for varying thedisplacement between the abutments on said first element to thereby varythe interval during which the motion of said carriage and spools isdelayed at the end of each stroke during reciprocation thereof.

16. In a roving frame having rotating spools provided with spacedflanges thereon, relatively rotating flyers provided with presserfeetfor directing roving to the spools, a carriage for said spools, and abuilder mechanism for imparting reciprocatory movement to said carriageparallel to the axes of said spools in strokes of predetermined length;the combination of means interposed between the builder mechanism andthe carriage for delaying the transmission of motion from the buildermechanism to the carriage for an interval of predetermined duration atthe end of each of said strokes.

17. A structure according to claim 16 wherein said means interposedbetween the builder mechanism and the carriage comprises a shaftoperatively connected to said builder mechanism for reciprocationthereby, a clutch body fixed on said shaft, a gear journaled on saidshaft, means operatively connecting said gear to said carriage, a keycarried by said gear, a pair of spaced abutments carried by said clutchbody and straddling saidkey in circular relationship thereto, and saidabutments being spaced a substantially greater distance apart from eachother than the width of said 'key whereby, with movement of said shaftin one direction, one abutment engages said key and imparts rotation tosaid gear and, upon commencement of reverse movement of said shaft, saidone abutment moves away from the said key and the other abutment movesinto engagement with said key to impart rotation to said gear in thereverse direction.

18. In a roving frame having rotating flyers equipped with presserfeetfor traversing roving onto relatively rotating and axially reciprocatingspools, a carriage for said spools, said spools having axially spacedflanges thereon; the combination with means effecting reciprocation tothe carriage parallel to the axes of the spools of; means delaying themovement of the carriage for a predetermined interval at the end of eachstroke thereof in each direction, and means to vary the position of eachflyer relative to and axially of the spools so that the presserfeet ofall the flyers occupy/the same position with respect to respectivespools during intervals in which said delaying means is effective.

19. In a roving frame having a vertically movable carriage, means onsaid carriage for rotatably supporting flanged spools on substantiallyvertical axes thereon, a spindle extending axially and loosely througheach spool, a fiyer mounted on each spindle and having a presserfootthereon provided with an eye for guiding a strand of roving to therespective spool, means for rotating said spools relative to the flyers,and means for imparting vertical reciprocatory motion to said carriageand the spools supported thereby in strokes ofpredetermined length; thecombination of means interposed in said lastnamed means for delayingmotion of said carriage for an interval of predetermined duration at theend of each stroke of said carriage in either direction, and means foradjusting each spindle to position each presserfoot in close proximityto, but out of contact with, each flange or each respective spool at theend of each stroke of said carriage.

20. A structure according to claim 19 wherein said means for adjustingeach spindle includes a bearing bracket fixedly secured to said rovingframe, a substan tially cup-shaped bearing threaded into each bracket,and

the lower end of each spindle being supported by and journaled in therespective cup-shaped bearing.

21. In a roving frame having rotating flyers equipped with presserfeetfor traversing roving onto rotating spools each having a flange on atleast one end thereof; the combination with means for effecting relativeaxial reciprocation between the spools and the flyers, of means to delayrelative axial movement between the spools and the flyers for apredetermined interval at the end of each such relative movement inwhich the presserfeet are dis posed in close proximity to the respectiveflanges.

22. The combination with a textile machine having strand traversingmeans equipped with presserfeet, a spool supporting carriage, drivingmeans to rotate spools on the carriage and to efiect relative axialreciprocation between the carriage and the strand traversing means, and

means forming a planar surface perpendicular to the.

axes of said spools at at least one end of said spools, of means todelay the relative reciprocation between said traversing means and saidcarriage at that end of each relative movement thereof in which eachpresserfoot is adjacent said planar surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

